Another Wedding Card

This is just a quick post before bedtime.

I made another wedding card with that wonderful image from LOTV. A square, easel card this time. I painted the image with Twinkling H2O's, so the brides dress is done in the colour "Icicles", and some  spots of glitter were added on the back. The Groom's clothes and shoes were painted in Hunter Grey.The flowers were by Wild Orchid (of course), and the sentiment is a peel off that I'm almost sure is a Papermania product, but I've had it so long I'm not 100% sure!

The leaves were die cut using left over scraps of the paper I used as backing papers. The plain lilac is from my stash, and the patterned paper is from P.M Amethyst Infusion pad.

Working hard......at last!

I've been working hard the last couple of days,.......... but on boring housework......... BAH!

I'd had a busy week and let everything go while I dashed here, there and everywhere. The dog hasn't been too well either which means more cleaning.
Any spare time that I had, I spent playing with my cards, I'd much rather do that than washing, and cleaning and dusting, but there comes a point when you can't turn a blind eye any longer!!......
Despite that, I have managed to make a couple of cards this week.
 I had an order come through for a first birthday card  for a little boy. Apparently he likes Thomas the tank engine, so I did an internet search and found a free digi image to print and colour myself.

Like many people I find men's cards particularly difficult to make, and in my case it extends to 'little' men too! Anyway, I made a card which the grandparents were happy with, and as the child is only 1yr old, as long as he likes the picture he'll be happy too, I'm sure.

Sorry everyone, but I'm still stuck with that awful camera that bends the shots and gives an awful grainy blotchy colour finish. I desperately need a new camera, but goodness knows when I can afford one. I hope you can bear with me on this one. One day you'll come on here, and be greeted by wonderfully clear pictures......................"oh look!..........there goes another flying pig!"  But there's no harm in hoping and wishing is there?

The second card I've made in the last few days, started out as a wedding card. I received a couple more stamps from Lili of the Valley and the wedding one is soooooooooo sweet. Anyway, I began to colour it in and by the time I'd finished, I could see it was going to have to be a Golden Wedding card. Do your cards take on a life of their own and decide on their own  format?  Mine do...........ALL the time!

Here's the finished result.

I coloured with promarkers, dabbed a few stickles on her dress( the wrong colour really, but it doesn't matter). Then I decorated the edge of some heart embossed paper with a Martha Stewart punch. Some gold ribbon & bow attached, and Wild Orchid paper flowers used to decorate. I love their flowers so much, that just lately everything I make seems to have them stuck on somewhere. The wording I made on the computer using my Decadry Express Xmas programme. I honestly don't think I could make cards without the help of this piece of software. For planning layouts, and making sentiments, inserts, and resizing images I've never found it's equal. Plus it's "idiot proof", and as I get older I find that's a definite advantage!

Its been suggested by my Housing Association that I might like to show/sell some of my cards at a table sale in September. I've jumped at the chance, should it go ahead, but it's not definitely decided yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

In the meantime, I'm thinking of offering some of my more elaborate cards on E-bay. Just to see how they go. I had some on Misi, but I had no sales from them, and I don't really like the new format. So I'll try something new, you never know do you? Wish me luck!!

...............Later!.......Christmas in July........

ok........so here we go!
  Lili of the Valley have some wonderful stamps out at the moment. I bought a Christmas A5 sheet with several images on it, and although I like them all, I have gone slightly Ga-Ga over this little teddy bear with pressies. He is definitely my favourite stamp for 2010 so far! You really should check out what they have on offer over there.
I decided he was so sweet I'm making him in various colours and offering him as a set of 5 and 10 cards, as well as individually, on the website in my Christmas range.
I've also used him on an easel card, along with another one of Henry Mouse from Whiff of Joy. Hope you like Ted  as much as I do.

All the images were coloured with Promarkers, & the steam rising off the hot chocolate was highlighted with 'frosted lace' stickle glue, which looks quite interesting once it dries! The backing paper on the Henry Mouse card was a free download from wayyyyyyyyyyy back, but unfortunately I can't recall where from now, sorry.

Gothic Cards

Trying to get into the mood to make Gothic cards for the website this weekend, I found some wonderful sillouettes on stitchy bear stamps, available as a download, so I gave them a tryout as "romantic" goth cards.

 I expect I'll get them a little more detailed, as I experiment more with the images, but these are certainly ok so far.The range is called "A Touch of Class" and I love them!

These were made very simply by laying the matted images onto black cardstock overlaid with primary coloured card punched with a Martha Stewart lace punch. Alittle 'bling' was added from my stash, and the last one I decided to use some bright Cerise ribbon I got from Joanna Sheen a while back. I sorta wish I'd laid some silver punched card under it to make it stand out a little more, but never mind! I also added some gems to this too. Two tones of pink, just along the bottom edge of the matting, and on the ribbon stripe at the top.

I also worked hard and made a few Christmas cards this weekend too. I'll post them later.

Just a quick blog!

I just wanted to add a picture of my latest card for the website. Its been a long time since I've done a gothic card, and to be honest I'm not quite into it yet...........gotta get the brain functioning on dark and devious things.

Its been a noisy morning which hasn't helped my concentration, we've suffered loud, thumping music for over 4 hours, from my upstairs neighbour!

On the other hand, towards the end, thoughts of blood and sharp things were certainly floating around my head, and you don't get much darker than that............ Hee Hee!!

So here's my latest, and I think I'll enter it for the L for Lace challenge on the Alphabet Challenge Blog. After all it has got lace!!

It's just a small A6 size on black cardstock, layered with silver mirri. The picture I printed off my computer, matted onto purple pearlescent card, edged with purple stickles the I added
black lace to the back of the image stack and stuck at an angle on the card. Stardust stickles added to the head jewellery with a bright pink star gem in the centre, plus a diamante as the centre of her pendant. The age label was made with silver peel off figures. I'm not totally happy with it, but I can't pinpoint why........so in it goes "as it is"

Shhhhhhhhhh.........I'm thinking Christmas!

I set to and made my first two Christmas cards of 2010. I don't usually start quite this early, but I'm determined not to get a last minute rush, and anyway someone on one of the Forums has been making since Easter, and I was starting to feel Guilty.........yes, and that is with a capital 'G'
 So here are two very simple easel cards, which have struggled their way out of my brain, but as the Muse hopefully arrives and I get inspired, I hope to make some I feel MUCH happier about later on.

The first one on the left uses some Daisy & Dandelion papers from last year, and the stamp, of course, is Whiff of Joy's Henry Mouse who I absolutely adore! The second one was made using Lili of the Valley down loadable papers which are extremely reasonable. Both of these designs are on the same pdf file for only 50p;  a bargain as far as I'm concerned!! The images  are from Penny Black and are in the clear stamp set called Holly Day Critters.

I also went back to decorating a card with Quilling yesterday, after a break of over a year. I never got very far with it when I first tried it, but the stuff was sitting in a nice box, feeling neglected, so I thought I'd better try again. It started out as a practice run, but then someone said they liked my cards and would love one made for her...."just to say hello".So as a surprise, this will be arriving with her this afternoon.

 A lot of the flowers have had beads inserted into the centres, and the leaves have been die cut from some card which had gold accents through it. The sentiment panel has been cut with deckle edge scissors, and outlined with a gold Calligraphy pen. The glorious chiffon ribbon is courtesy of Joanna Sheen.

I sort of half had it in mind to do some quilled cards for Xmas, but I'll see how I feel about that later, as they are  VERY time consuming.

Finally............ I made a card!

I made another card yesterday for my ex husband who has just had a replacement knee operation done. I know he was dreading the op, cos he's always hated hospitals, even to visit others! But there comes a point where the pain outweighs the dread, and at least he's home again quickly. The card will be delivered later this morning, so there's no problem posting it on here!


I used Laura Ashley background papers, along with some pretty blue bazzil card.
The image I had stored as a line drawing on my computer, and as he likes Betty Boop, I printed it off and coloured it with promarkers.
I also coloured the medicine green, and then had to use the same promarker to colour the ribbon to match. I added glossy accents to the medicine and Betty's eyes to give some dimension, especially to the medicine that was dripping off the spoon.


The sentiment was printed on the computer and then cut out using my nestabilities. The edging to the card was done with a Martha Stewart punch. (I really love those and I must get some more soon!) Anyway, this is it!

Let me know if you like the new font, I think it's a bit clearer, but input from readers is always good!!

Day 7 - Last Day!! - Last Chance!!

Good morning..........the last day of the Whiff of Joy 7 day blog candy. another stamp on offer today, and one well worth having. Head on ever and join in ASAP.  Still having horrendous trouble getting the link to attach to the WOJ logo.............so click HERE please.

It's Day 6 Already

It's day 6 of the Whiff of Joy 7 day blog candy giveaway. Every day since July 3rd Katherina has been giving away one of her new stamps. Head on over there and join in, it's simple to do, and a terrific prize if you are lucky enough to win!

Just click HERE

Day Five.....................

We are now onto day five of the Whiff of Joy 7 day blog candy. See the Link below to go and join in, there is a different stamp to be won every day for a week.
Good Luck with it, sorry it's a quick post but I'm over run with JObs and people ringing and visiting today. Ever wished you lived on an desert Island??

Day 3 of 7.........another chance to win

Day 3 of the Whiff of Joy blog candy. Still got my fingers crossed, but I never win things like this. My participation is a definite case of hope over experience.

Still just follow the link to join in, and have fun!

Another bit of fun is to be seen on the MAC website. They have started to sell t-shirts & hoodies with text on saying things like "I'm a crafty one". Anyway, they got some of the staff to model the clothing and my ex-husband is on there looking  REALLY weird.  He actually looks much better in real life, but his excuse for the funny face and pose is that they said they had to behave like models!!
Anyway, here's the link if you fancy the clothing
http://www.madaboutcards.com/section.php/2012/1

but if not, just have a giggle at the picture.

Day 2 ............

.............of the Whiff of Joy 7 day blog candy give away. Another great stamp to win today, Just follow the link HERE

A MONTH?????????????????

I can't believe it's been a month since I blogged!......Where has the time gone? I think the main problem is not having enough hours in the day, and sharing my computer with a teenager who's internet link has gone walkabout!I have to fight to use my own 'compi' these days.
I have made some cards tho, honest! I did a couple as "thank you" cards for teachers, as it's coming up to the end of the school year.
I used my new Martha Stewart punch on both of them, (hmmmm................I need many more of these, I'm thinking!)
For the first card I used the Hoot the Owl 'Who Passed' stamp from Joanna Sheen, and cut out and set the image onto pads on a base of green bazzil card from Little Claire.
 For the second one I used a stamp from Sugar Nellie , called 'Demure'..........at least I think it was Sugar Nellie, If I'm wrong please let me know!

I also made my first La Pashe "flippin' women" card for a friends birthday. I hope she liked it as I haven't spoken to her since I sent it.

I set the image onto acetate after cutting out a section on the card.

Down the right side and the bottom, I set to with my tweezers, tacky glue, lilac seed beads, tiny pink pearls and some larger beads to make a swirly design.
I also added some cream pearls to some of the bubbles in the bath.
The sentiment I stuck onto some card, cut around it and then added a border of the same lilac seed beads,  then I attached it at an angle on 2mm foam pads. I then added a hot pink ribbon bow. Onto the knot I stuck two pearl hearts - one with a lilac heart gem set in the centre, the other with a lilac heart sequin backing it. Both were stuck on with pinflair glue gel. Then I added another of the beads. 
The Flippin women/men decoupages are fun, but I don't feel its my own work. Adding the beads, although time consuming, did give me more of a sense of satisfaction with the finished result.

Whiff of Joy 7 day blog candy!

Just a quick post to promote the Whiff of Joy 7 day blog candy giveaway.

Over the next 7 days (starting today), Katherina will give away 1 stamp per day, of the new City Girl II collection. Also included is a package 2 spritzers and 2 daubers by LuminArte.

This is a brilliant opportunity to grab some fantastic stamps, so why not head over there by clicking the link above. I won't wish you good luck................hee hee.....cos I want 'em!